Truck Blind Spots: Stay Out of Them!

Driving near a large truck can be dangerous for some reasons; large trucks can weigh up to 80 tons, making them challenging to control and deadly in an truck accident. While truck drivers have a duty to operate their vehicles with a high level of care, other drivers on the road also have a obligation to exercise caution.

One thing that all drivers of standard passenger cars should learn are the locations of large truck blind spots and the importance of staying out of those blind spots.

Front Blind Spot

Most people don’t realize that one of the most dangerous places to drive is directly in front of a large vehicle. While the driver of a large truck may be able to see a car that is far ahead of it easily, a vehicle that is directly in front is often hidden from review.

If you are driving in front of a large truck and stop or slow down suddenly, you are at risk of an accident; at 65 miles per hour, it takes a large truck approximately 525 feet—or the length of two football fields—to come to a complete stop. And that’s assuming the tractor-trailer driver can see you and knows that you’re stopping!

Side Blind Spots

Truck drivers have blind spots on both sides of their vehicle. Driving on the right side of an 18-wheeler can lead to a situation known as squeeze play which is when a passenger car is squeezed between the truck and an object on the right (median, wall, another car) because the truck is turning right. On the left side, the blind spot is smaller than on the right side but is equally as dangerous.

If you are passing a semi, do so quickly; do not hang out in a truck’s blind spots. And remember that when exiting a blind spot, give yourself and the truck driver plenty of room before entering the truck’s lane.

Rear Blind Spots

Much like the direct front of a large truck, a truck driver cannot see vehicles that are driving directly behind a large truck either. To ensure that you are as safe as possible, allow a few cars’ lengths’ distance between you and a truck that you are driving behind, or change to the other lane.

Filing a Truck Accident Claim

If you have been in a truck accident, liability will be determined based on who was driving negligently, causing the accident. If you were driving in a truck’s blind spots when your accident occurred, you might be held partially liable.

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